EXCLUSIVE: Mike Smith explains why Titans fired GM and gave HC Mike Vrabel control of franchise
The Tennessee Titans shocked the NFL world by firing general manager Jon Robinson earlier this month. He was hired to lead the franchise in 2016 and under his tutelage, the Titans have never finished a season with fewer than nine wins. The team named VP of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden as the interim general manager.
Tennessee were 7-5 when Robinson was fired and were seemingly in cruise control of the AFC South division title race. What made his firing even more puzzling was the fact that the team handed him a three-year extension in February 2022.
On the latest episode of Sportskeeda's BallFather podcast, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith discussed the situation. He explained to host Reggie Roberts why Tennessee decided to part ways with their general manager. Here's what he said:
"GMs are getting evaluated in-season up to this point in time. You know, it's always evaluated after the end of the season. Maybe they're getting evaluated like coaches are."
He continued:
"But the biggest thing that I want to find out is if this trend is going in a different direction, that means that Mike Vrabel is going to have more power. And maybe what they're going to do with the Titans is they're going to do what they've done at most of the successful teams in the NFL that are head coach centric."
Smith believes the Titans are looking to emulate the same strategy that teams like the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs have used and enjoyed success over the past decade:
"The teams that are head coach centric, if you look at over the last ten years, maybe 12 years, if you look at the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, the Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers, and Pittsburgh, they are all head coach centric. It's not the GM that has the top spot on the org. chart. It's the head coach and maybe it's going to switch back and we're going to see more of that happen."
Watch the latest episode of the BallFather Podcast below:
Will the Titans hand Mike Vrabel the keys to the franchise?
The Mike Vrabel-Jon Robinson duo was a revelation for the Tennessee Titans. Together, they led the franchise to four winning seasons, two division titles, and a trip to the AFC Championship game.
Robinson's recent missteps included trading for Julio Jones, drafting offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson and dealing wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. These were reportedly sources of frustration for Vrabel. Ironically, Robinson was fired two days after the Eagles beat Tennessee 35-10. Brown finished the game with 119 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Reporter Aaron Wilson backed Mike Smith's assessment that the Titans will hand over personnel decisions to Vrabel.
Mike Vrabel expected to have significant power after #Titans' dismissal of general manager Jon Robinson, according to league sources
However, the Titans' head coach played down reports of him enjoying autonomy over personnel decisions. He will not operate like Patriots head coach Bill Belichick does, and claimed owner Amy Adams Strunk will make the final calls.
It remains to be seen whether Tennessee will hand over the keys to the franchise to Vrabel. However, it does appear that the head coach will have a bigger say moving forward.